Apparatus for making wire rods



(No Model.) s Sheets- Sheet 1.

P. DANIELS. APPARATUS FOR MAKING WIRE RODS.

Patented Feb.v 5, 1884.

N. PETERS. Pnumum w, wmm me.

(No Model.) 7 3 Sheets-Sheet 2;.

y F. H. DANIELS.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING WIRE RODS. No. 292,794.

Patented Feb. 5; 1884.

W] TIME/5555.

a s eenksheen (No Model.)

r. H. DANIELS. APPARATUS FOR MAKING WIRE RODS.

Patented Feb. 5, 1884.

CENZIAZ.

Win E5555.

UNirsn STAT S PATENT ricE.

FRED H. DANIELS, on woRoEsTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

' APPARATUS FOR MAKING WIRE RODS.

s'JECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 292,794, dated February 5, 1884.

A Application filed August 17,1883 (No model.)

to the accompanying drawings, which form a .part of this specification.

The object of my present invention is to provide a rolling-mill of increased capacity operating on the continuous-rolling "system, whereby wire rods can be produced in great quantity, and of small sizes,when desired, and which is sufficiently automatic in its action to be managed by a comparatively small number of attendants; also, to provide a rolling-mill for making wire rods by continuous-rolling process, in which the latter part of the continuous trains of rolls is adapted to operate at a-variable speed, while the first part of the train of rolls operates at a uniform speed; also, to provide a rolling-mill having rolls operating on the continuous system, with a first section or primary train operating at a uniform speed, and two or more secondary or following trains operating at variable speed, with an intermediate distributing-table and directing mechanism for conducting the rods from the first section or train to either of the following trains of rolls, and for permitting distribution of the rod intermediately of the trains, as more fully hereinafter explained; also, to provide means for automatically feeding the end of the partially-reduced rod to the leading-rolls of the second sections from .the distributing-table; also,in a rolling-mill plant, to afford,in connection with an intermediatelylocated distributing.- table combined with a continuous rolling-mill having trains of rolls in-two or more sections, of facilities for reeling up cobble, orimperfectly-formed rods directly upon said intermediate table; also, to

afford means for the convenient management of the mill and control of the driving-engines, as desired. These objects I attain by mechanism the nature and organization of which isillustratedinthe drawings, and explained in the following description, the particular features of improvement claimed being hereinafter definitely specified.

Figure l is an outline plan view, showlng the arrangement of my improved rolling-mill mechanism. Fig. 2 is a plan view on alarger scale, showing the devices for delivering the rods from the distributingtable to. theleadingrolls of the secondary continuous trains. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the table and elevation view of the feeding-rolls and delivering lllQOhZLTllSlIlSllOWll in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shows a front view of the feed-rolls separate from other parts. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section of one of the deliverytubes. Fig. 6 is a part rear, part sectional, view,,showing the engineerls stand, one-half of the distributing table, and the engine at the head of one of the second trains, and illustrating the arrangement of connections and-levers for controlling the operation of the engines and mill.

, My improved continuous mill consists of aprimary train of pairs of rolls arranged for continuous operation-i.' 0., for passing the rod direct from one pair of rolls to the next following without intermediate handlingan adjustable switch or guide for direct ing the rod to the right or left, a distributingtable having divergent guiding-channels for conducting the end of the rod across said table, and two secondary trains of rolls, also arranged for continuous operation, for completing the reduction and finishing the rod, and a reeling apparatus for winding up the finished rods into coils. The first or primary train of rolls is here shown as comprising ten pairs of rolls, (numbered from 1 to 10, respectively, in order,) and the second series as comprising eight pairs. of rolls, each respectively numbered from'l to 8 on Fig.1, although,-if.'de-

sired, adifferent number-of rolls could be employed in the series or respective continuous trains. The rolls are mounted inhousings the proportional increase in thelength of the rod as it is diametrically reduced and elon-, gated in passing through the mill. The grooves or dies in the various pairs of rolls are of the usual shapes for effecting the reduction and giving the desired form to the metal.

The primary train of rolls B is located in front of the heating-furnace A, to receive the heated billets or bars of metal from the furnace-doorway. Said train B is operated by the engine E,running at regular uniform speed and at aveloeity that gives a peripheral movement of about one hundred feet per minute (more or less) in the first pair of rolls, or about forty revolutions, the rolls being about nine inches in diameter, and each successive pair from one to ten having a progressively and proportioned increase of speed as required.

At the foot of the primary train B is an ranged an adjustable guide or switch, 0, and also a large metal platform or distributingta ble, D, in which are formed guiding-channels D that diverge to the right and left from the positions of the switch and extend to the opposite sides of the table,where they terminate in funnel-shaped guides or delivery-tubes (I. as indicated. The table or platform may be some forty feet (more or less) from front to rear. It is supported at about the same level as the jaws of the mill-roll, and is made with a flat platform-surface in the triangular space between the channels, and with laterally-extended wings or platform-surfaces D at the outer sides of the respective channels D, and is provided with a standing guard or flange g along its border. The channels D may be of semicircular form or other suitable shape, about six inches wide. and sunk below the general level of the platform-surface suflieient to guide the ends of the rods through the length of the channels, which extend in direct courses from the switch 0 to the respective delivery-tubes (I, while they are sufliciently shallow to aJlow any over-feed of the rods to distribute itself in loops upon the table-surface at either side. Friction-rollers e are arranged at either side of the channels, where they merge into the tubes (1, as shown.

The delivery-tube d is made of the form shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5, with a proper curve to direct the rod into the following rolls, and with an open flanged slot, f, along its top, to permit of the rod being let into the tube when for any reason the end of a rod is passed into the rolls without the usual automatic action of threading the end through the tube direct from the channels. This may sometimes be necessary in case of irregularities in the perfect runningoftherods. Byhaving theguide-tube slotted an attendant is enabled to swing the rod into the guide while entering its end between the rolls with his tongs, and the draft immediately brings it down into proper place.

The switching-guide C can be made to operate automatically, or it may be operated by an attendant, as desired. Said switch is adapted for deflecting the end of the rod as it comes from the last pair of rolls on the primary train B, so that it will run into either of the channels I), accordingly as the switch is adjusted, and thereby be conducted to either of the secondary trains or series of continuous-rolling mechanisms F and F, which are respectively located at the foot of said channels I), to antomatically receive the partially-reduced rods therefrom and to complete the reduction and formation of the same into finished wire rod of therequired dimension. The secondaryseri es or trains of rolls F and F are respectively operated by independent engines E and E, which are run at variable speed, as desired, said engines being controlled by an engineer," whose stand is at G near the foot of the table D, or at other convenient position, where he can readily observe the working of the mill and the passage of the rods through the channels D.

The engines may be provided with double steam-supply pipes s 8, one under control of the engine-governor and the other having a valve with actuating-eonnection extending to the stand G, to be operated by the engineer for increasing and diminishing speed.

The several actuating-eonnections may be furnished with operating-levers at the stand G, torender them convenient for manipulation.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated the method of connecting the controlling mechanism so as to be under the charge or asingle engineer. This drawing shows only one of the engines; but it will be understood that the opposite engine can be connected in similar manner. In the reference to parts J and J are the handwheels and gear-shafts for opening and closing the main steanrvalve. indicates the rods for opening the auxiliary valve in one of the pipes s for increasing the speed. 1 indicates the hand-levers for moving rods 0, and thereby regulating the engines. Another method for increasing and diminishing the speed of the engines E and E is to vary the tension of the governor, so that the balls are held down by greater or less force. This may be done by means of a lever and weight, the weight being adjustable along the lever and moved by suitable connecting-rods, similar to rod 0, under control of the engineer at his stand G, so as to cause the governor-ball to rise or fall withgreater or less speed, as desired.

Between the delivery-guides (Z of the table and the leading pair of reducing-rolls a of the second trains I introduce a pair of feedingrolls, H, for forcing forward the end of the rod in case the leading-rolls a do not readily take it; also, a shear, I, for trimming the end of the rod in case it is broomed or split, so that it will not enter the guides in front of the rolls. The feed-rolls H. are arranged with the top rolls in the pair simply mounted in a vibrating frame, h, so to be raised from contact with the lower roll, which latter is flanged at the ends and is mounted and geared to operate in unison with the leading pair a in the train, or so as to have corresponding peripheral speed. The frame h is connected wtih cam-shaft H or other convenient mechanism, so that said frame and. its roll can be raised and depressed at willby the attendant or en- When the rolls H are separated, they gineer. have no material action on the red, the lower roll simply revolving beneath it, and the top roll remaining stationary; but by depressing the frame h the top roll is dropped upon the rod,pressing it against the lower revolving roll,

and thus ren'dering'the pair effective for running the rod forward into the jaws of rolls a.

In normal position of the mechanism these rolls remain separated, but are brought into action in case the rod is delayed in its deliv-. cry to the second train of rolls. In the presentinstance the cam-shaft H is connected by suitable gearingwith the hand-lever B at the stand G, and the engineer can raise and lowerthe top feed-roll by swinging said lever It. If desired, the shear I could also be connected so as to be put into operation from the stand G; or, if preferred, both the feedrolls and shear can be manipulated by an attendant at the head of the train of rolls.

The secondary trains F and F have theirtrains F and F are each provided with a reeling apparatus, K and K. These reel devices may be of the. ordinary kind, or of the im- M, located as shown in Fig. 1.

proved form, such as described in my former specification for patent on reeling apparatus, and which includes a double automatic apparatus with switch and distributing table. In the present instance the reelsK and K are shown as arranged in convenient manner for both discharging upon a single platform-car or truck, L, that runs upon a railway or tracks, The reel-platform is furnished with a suitable guard-screen, Z, and with an overhead track,m,for supporting the transfer-tongs, by which the coils are taken from the reels to the truck L.

Adjacent to the distributing-table D, I arrange a reeling apparatus, N, adapted for reeling up any waste cobble, damaged, or imperfectly-formed rods that may come from or be delivered upon the table D by the primary train B, or such product as it is not desirable to run through the second trains F and F. Said reel N is preferably located in a recess at the foot of the table, as indicated, at convenient position to be controlled by the engineer at the stand G. The several reels canbe operatedby belts from suitable drivingshafts, that may be located at any convenient position. The guides between the several rolls in the trains B, F, and F can be substantially the same as heretofore employed in continuousrolling-mills. The last pair of rolls ofthe primary train, B, may be run atabout four hundred revolutions per minute, and the first pair, a, of the second trains, F and F, at about three hundred revolutions and upward per minute, which will give aspeed of some seven hundred revolutions and upward for the last pair of rolls in said second trains.

In operating the mill the heated billets are drawn from thefnrnace and run through the first train of rolls, B, and the partially-reduced rods are alternately switched left and rightto the two following continuous trains of rolls, the first rod going down the left-hand channel D to the train F, and the second rod going down the right-hand channel to the train F, and so on in order, alternating each succes sive rod. The end of the rod, by the force ac quired in the train B, is projected along the guide-channel'D, across'the table D, through the guiding-tube d, and thence into the jaws of the leading pair of rolls a of the second train, whence it passes through the several succeeding rolls, and is delivered in finished condition at the foot of the machine, ready to be wound upon the reel K, the passage being automatically executed. While the end is passing through the second train the overfeed of the rod from the first train distributes itself in loops upon the table-surface at D D; When the first end of the rod has reached reel K, the engineer from his stand G gives the engine of the second train more steam, and increases the speed of the rolls in said train to any desired velocity, or so as to pick up the over-feed from the table D and clear the rod from the train before another rod is ready for presentation to this train.' WVhen the rod'has passed, the speed is again reduced to its normal' condition. By thus ruhning the rods at increased speed after the first end is through the train of rolls the rolling throughout the length of the rod is accomplished at a more uniform heat than it otherwise would be, since theover-feed at the latter part of the rod is not permitted to lie and cool upon the table for proportionally so much longer time than the first portions, and the action is better regulated to the heat of the metal. The mill thus arranged is also adapted for rolling the rods to smaller size than the ordinary mills, and more rolls can be employed successfully in the series. If the front end of the rod is split and spread so that it will not enter the leaders of the second train, thus stopping its motion when it arrives at that position, the shear I is employed to takeoff the split end, and the rolls H are then brought into action to start the rod forward, so that its newformed end will enter between the rolls a. v If any rod or a part of the rod becomes cobbled in the mill, or is damaged or detained on the table D,'so that it is not practical or desirable to run it through the finishing-train,

its end is taken to the reel N, and such rod is fore been made in which a train or series of rolls arranged to operate on the continuous system is used for partially reducing the rods, said continuous train being supplemented by two following series of rolls located in right and left wings, and arranged for operation in the order known as the Belgian system, the rods from the continuous train being passed to and finished alternately in the right and left wings of the Belgian series.

' It will therefore be understood that I do not herein make claim, broadly, to the feature of supplementing a primary series of rolls by two following series, through which the rods are passed after they come from the primary series alternately to the right and left.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The distributing-table D, constructed, as shown with divergent guidin g-ch an nels D, terminating in the curved funnels or tubes d, and provided with laterally-extended wings or platforn'i-surfaces D, and the standing border or guard flange 9, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2.. In a rolling-mill for making wire rods, the combination of a single primary train of series or pairs of rolls arranged for operating in continuous order, and two secondary trains or series of pairs of rolls likewise arranged for operating on the continuous sys tem, for alternately completing the rods partially formed in said primary train, and an intermediate]y-locatcd platform or table for receiving and permitting the distribution of the over-feed of the rod between the said trains, as set forth.

3. In a rolling-mill comprising a primary series or train of rolls supplemented by double series or trains of rolls arranged for alternately receiving the partially-reduced rods from said primary train, a distributing-table lo cated between said primary train and the following rolls, and provided with means for antomatically guiding the ends of the rod to the leading-rollsof the secondary or supplemental series of rolls, and for permitting the over-feed to distribute itself upon thetable-surface, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

i. The combination, in a rolling-mill, of a primary series or train of rolls, as B, arranged for operating in continuous order, a distributing-table provided with divergent guidechannels, an adjusting-switch for deflecting the rod into either channel, and two or more secondary series or trains of rolls arranged for operating in continuous order, adapted for receiving the rods from the respective guidcchannels of said distributing-table, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

5. In a rolling-mill, the combination, with a primary train of rolls arranged to operate in continuous order, a distributing-table with divergent guide-channels, and two secondary trains of rolls, as F F, provided with independent motors or engines E 15, of a mechanism, substantially such as described, for varying the speed of said engines, operating from a stand, G, at a position overlooking said distribntingtable and roll-trains, as set forth.

6. In a rolling-mill mechanism, the combination, with an intermediately located distributing-table having guiding-chan nels termi natlng in funnels or tubes, as d, of guiding or friction rolls, as 0, arranged at the entrance of said tube, for the purpose set forth.

7. Ina wire-rod-rolling mill having intermediate distributingtable, a rod-shearing mechanism, I, located between the delivery-guides of said table and the leading-rolls of the second ary train F or F, for the purpose set forth.

8. In a rolling-mill having two or more series of rolls and an intermediately-located distributingtable, the combination, with the secondary series of rolls, ofa pair of feeding-rolls, as H, adapted to be brought into action for forcing the end of the rods into the leading-bite of the reduction-rolls in said second train, substantially as set forth.

9. The combiuation,with the table 1), guides (I, and train of rolls F F, of the feeding-rolls I-I, one of which is mounted for vertical action, as described, and the operating-cams and shaft H, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. The combinatiomin a rolling-mill, of the primary train of rolls B, the two completingtrains F and F, the table D,with guides D d, the feed-rolls I-I, engines F F, the stand G, and the controlling-connections O and II, and actuating-levers I and R, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

11. In a rolling-mill having a primary train of rolls and a distributing-table and second trains of rolls, as described, a reeling apparatus, N, located adjacent to said distributingtahle for reeling waste pieces, partially reduced or damaged rods directly from said in termediate table, as set forth.

12. In a rolling-mill plant for making wire rods, the combination and arrangement, as herein shown and described, of the furnace A, the primary train B, the switchingguide O, the distributing-table D, the feed-rolls H, the. secondary trains of rolls F and F, the reeling devices K and K, the motors E E E, and operators stand G, with connections for controlling the mechanism, as set forth.

. 13. The guide-tube d, provided with the longitudinal flanged slotf, in combination with a distributing-table and pair of rolls in a rodrolling mill, for permitting the rod to be entered in the rolls and then drawn into the tube, as set forth.

\Vitness my hand this 11th day of August, A. D. 1883.

FRED I-I. DANIELS.

Vitnesses:

CHAS. H. Bunmncn, S. It. BARTON. 

